THREE CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 37, 12 February 1879, Page 4

THREE CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH.

[Melbourne Telegraph, 20th January.J About half-past 1 o'clock yesterday morniog a fire broke out in a wooden cottage, occupied by a Mr Blake, in Stafford-street, Collingwood, which resulted in thelos9 of three lives and the total destruction of two adjoining tenements. It appears that Mrs Blake retired at about 12 o'clock, after having seen her seven children safely in bed. Mr Blake, who is a warder at the Kew Asylum, was not at home at tbe time, being on duty at the asylum. About the time stated Mrs Blake was awakened by one of the children, who was crying. It seems that five of the elder children occupied one of the back rooms, and the two youngest, a boy aged four years, and a girl aged nine months, slept in the same bed as Mrs Blake. On bearing the child cry, she got up, and lit a candle, which she appears to have placed on a box near one of the windows, and then went in to the children. After attending to the child, ane returned to her own room, when she discovered that the candle had ignited the window blind. Mrs Blake immediately obtained a bucket of water, which she threw on the curtains, but did not succeed in quenching the flames. She then went to the watertap to obtain more water, but before she again reached the room the flames had obtained a thorough bold of the walls, and were issuing out of the door, which prevented Mrs. Blake from again getting into the room, although she made several desperate efforts to rescue the two childred. She received such boras that she was obliged to retire.

Seeing that her efforts were futile in paving- the two children, she rushed into the room where the other children were asleep, and awakened them. Four of them succeeded in getting out of the house, but the fifth, a boy of six years of age, appears to have rushed into the room where the other children were burning, and to have perished with them. During her excitement Mrs Blake forgot to call for assistance, and it waa not until the glare of the fire was noticed by au opposite neighbor that the alarm was given. After the flames had been extinguished, a search was made for the remains of the unfortunate children, which, after a little time, was found lying on the floor of the room. The bodies presented a most horrible sight, bein» charred in a most fearful manner. Mrs Blake, who was enduring most excruciating pain, was examined, when her injuries were found to be of such a serious nature that it was necessary to remove her to the hospital.